Lock



fiZfierZ'JPacewc'c/E 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 LOCK A. J. P AcEwmK Filed Sept.12, 1955 May 3, 1938,

Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims- This invention relates to that general class ofdevices known as locks, and more particularly to a novel. and improvedconstruction of locking mechanism which may be operated substantiallyasa permutation lock.

An object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism of thecharacter described adapted for association withthe fuel supply line ofan automobile, whereby the supply line may be locked against tamperingby unauthorized persons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedlocking mechanism for the fuel supply line of an automobile disposedwithin 15. the fuel supply for locking the same, said locking mechanismbeing substantially pick-proof and being arranged for easy. manipulationby the operator of the vehicle from the dash board thereof. A furtherobject of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism. of thecharacter described for the fuel supply of an automobile which-may bereadily and conveniently attached in the fuel supply withoutnecessitating the modification or altering of the same, and when infully assembled .1 position with the fuel supply line, the same may bereadily manipulated by authorized persons from the dash board of thevehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel andimproved locking mechanism of ,the character described which willconsist of a minimum of parts, which may be readily assembled and-which,therefore, may be produced at a cost, convenient for mass production,but which at the same time will be highly efiicient for carrying out thepurposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of mparts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure45.. may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodimentthereof, from an inspection of which when considered in connection withthe following description, my invention, its mode of construction,assembly and operation, and many of its advantages shouldbe readilyunderstood and appre-- 55,- elated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings:

Figure l is a view illustrating my improved locking mechanism associatedwith the engine of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my improved locking actuatingmechanism mounted on the dash board of the vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially on line 5-5: of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational View of the actuating mechanism mounted onthe dash board of the vehicle;

Fig. 'l is a sectional view taken substantially on line 'l'l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of my improved operating mechanism withwhich the combination to the lock may be set. up;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through said operating mechanism takensubstantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig, 10'is a top plan view of the universal joint connecting theactuating mechanism on the dash board with the valve means associatedwith the engine;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partly broken away, through the lockingmechanism associated with the engine;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through the locking mechanism takensubstantially on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view looking into the valve casing with the lockingmechanism for setting up the combination removed;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on line |4l4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through one of the valve operating memberstaken substantially on line l5l5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a view taken substantially on line I i-I6 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a view taken substantially on line IL-Il of Fig. 12;

Fig. 18 is a view taken substantially on line 18-48 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 16 with. the actuating disk disposedin a different position of operation.

Referring to the drawings more specifically by characters of reference,the letter A designates generally my improved locking mechanism attachedto the carburetor C of an automobile engine E, said mechanism havingassociated with it the shaft it which extends therefrom, and the freeend of which is connected by means of a suitable universal joint H to ashaft l2, the latter shaft being associated with the actuatingmechanism, generally designated by the letter B, and which is mounted onthe dash board D of the vehicle.

The carburetor is provided with a threaded nipple 13 which inthe presentcase may be made of highly tempered steel to prevent the same from beingreadily cut away or severed from the carburetor. To the nipple i3 isadapted to be secured in threaded relation the box-like member l4substantially one-half of which is hollowed out to form the compartmentl5 for receiving and housing the locking mechanism to be hereinaftermore fully described.

Within the other portion of the member I4 is provided a fuel passage I6, one end of which communicates with the nipple I 3, and in the otherend of which is threaded a second nipple ll leading from the fuel supplyline (not shown) whereby communication may be established between thefuel supply line and the carburetor C through the medium of the passageIS. Provided in the member l4 intermediate the ends of the passage I6 isa tapered valve seat i8 within which is adapted to be received a taperedvalve member I9, which valve member is integrally formed with the diskmember 20. The free end of the valve member I9 is of reduced diameterand is externally threaded to form an extension 2|, which extensionextends through a somewhat enlarged bore 22 to the outside of the memberM, as shown in Fig. 12. When in fully assembled position, the threadedextension 2! is surrounded by a coil spring 23, said spring having oneend bearing against the shoulder 24 and the other end against a washer25, said washer and spring being adjustably held in place by a pair oflock nuts 26 threaded on the free end of the extension 2|.

The valve member l9 has a transverse passage 21 extending therethrough,which passage may be arranged for alignment with the passage it when itis desired to establish communication to the carburetor, and which maybe moved through an angle of in a manner to be hereinafter more fullydescribed when it is desired to prevent such communication. Theprovision of the spring 23 will be effective for causing a tight fit ofthe valve H9 in its seat 13 at all times, said spring compensating forany wear of the valve member.

In order to prevent the unauthorized removal of the member H! with itsassociated mechanism, I have provided adjacent one corner of the memberl4 a bore 28 which extends completely through the member M, as shown inFig. 11, within which bore is adapted to be received a rod 29 which maybe made of highly tempered steel, one end of said rod extending beyondthe member l4 and in position to be engaged by the carburetor C when itis desired to rotate the member M in order to detach the same from thenipple 13. The rod 29 is permanently secured in place in the bore 28 bythe pin 39 which extends through a transverse passage provided in therod, which passage is in alignment with the opening provided in the wallof the member !4 for the passage of said pin 30. By reason of the factthat the rod 29 is of highly tempered steel, it will be readily apparentthat it will be practically impossible to readily sever the same shouldan unauthorized person attempt to remove the locking mechanism from thecarburetor.

As already stated, the valve I9 is formed integrally with the disk 20,which disk has a portion thereof cut away, as shown at 3!, Fig. 15, andwithin which cut away portion is pivotally mounted, as shown at 32, amember 33, the free end of which is connected to one end of a coilspring 34, the other end of which spring is connected to a fixed pin 35,said spring normally urging said member 33 in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 15. Extending from saidv member 33 is a pin or stud 35,which pin is disposed in a notch 37 provided on one face of the disk 20,said notch co-operating with the pin 36 for limiting movement of thepivoted member 33 in either direction.

The disk 20 is adapted for disposition on the bottom wall of thecompartment I5 with the pin 35 extending therefrom towards the open endof said compartment. The disk 20 is also provided with a central recess38 within which is adapted to be received the rounded edge 39 of thefree end of the shaft l0, said end being disposed for free rotation insaid recess, the latter forming a bearing for said end of the shaft.

Rigidly secured to said shaft immediately adjacent its free rounded end39 is a disk 40, said 'disk being somewhat smaller in diameter than thedisk 20 and being provided with a peripheral notch 4! within which isadapted to be received the pin 35 when the device is in assembledposition. One side wall of said notch is cammed, as shown at 42, so asto permit rotation of the disk 49 relative to said disk 20 in onedirection, but the two will turn together when moved in the otherdirection. It will also be noted that when in assembled position, thespring 34 will normally urge the pin 36 into engagement within the notch44, the diameter of the disk 40 being such that when the pin 35 rides onthe outer periphery thereof, the pivoted member 33 will be moved againstthe tension of spring 34 to the limit of its anti-clockwise movement, asviewed in Fig. 15. Extending towards the open end of the compartment #5is a stud or pin 43 rigidly secured to one face of the disk 40 for apurpose to be presently more fully described.

In order to set up the combination for coupling the disk 29 to the disk46 whereby rotary movement may be imparted to the disk 20 and valvemember l9 associated therewith through the shaft I8 when it is desiredto actuate said valve, I provide a plurality of fixed disks 44, 45 and46, all of which disks are connected in spaced relation to each other bymeans of the spacer members 4i and 48 disposed adjacent opposed sides ofsaid disks 44, 45 and 46. Any suitable means may be employed forconnecting said disks to each other, and in the embodiment illustrated,I employ the headed screws 49, which screws extend through the disks 44,45 and 46 as well as the spacer members 4'! and 48 disposed between saiddisks. In addition to being secured to each other, said disks are alsoconnected by means of the same screws 49 to a cover plate 50 which isadapted for completely enclosing the compartment I 5. Suitable nuts 5|may be provided on the free ends of said screws 49 for completing theassembly of the disks to each other.

Each of the disks 44, 45 and 46 is provided with a central opening 52, aportion of the periphery of which opening is cut away, as shown 75 inFig. 17, to form the shoulder 53 and notch 54, the portion 55 betweenthe notch 54 and shoulder 53 being of somewhat enlarged diameter.Disposed between each of the fixed disks 44, 45 and 46 and cover plateare the annular disks 56, 51. and 58, each of which is loosely mountedon the shaft [0 for rotation thereon. The diameter of said annular.disks is such that it is larger than the diameter of the opening 52, butslightly smaller than the diameter of the por tion of said opening. 1

Provided in each of said disks 56, 51 and 58 is an arcuateslot 59 withinwhich is'adapted to be received the pin or stud 43 extending from thedisk 46 when the mechanism is in fully assembled position. The arcuateslots 59 are arranged so that they may be disposed in alignment witheach other, but each slot is of a different size in length from theslots in the other two disks. The pin 43 is of such a length as toextend into the slots 59 of all of the disks 56, 51 and 58. In additionto the arcuate slots 59 provided in the annular disks, these disks arealso provided with a peripheral notch 66, which notches are adapted foralignment with each other andowith the notch 4| in the disk 40 and whenso aligned will receive the pin or stud 36 extending from the pivotedmember 33. r

In order to prevent accidental movement of the disks 56, 5'1- and 58, Ihave provided spring clip members 6| having the arms 62 which engage theperiphery of the annular disk and thereby frictionally hold the same inany position to which it may have been moved. Said spring clip members6| are held in assembled position by means of the screws 63 which extendthrough the plate members 44, 45 and 46 and cover member 56. Nuts 64 arethreaded on the free end of said screw member 63 to complete theassembly of the mechanism.

From the construction above described, it will be apparent that when themechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 19, the stud 36 will bereceived within the notches 54 of the fixed plate members 44, 45 and 46,in which position the pivoted member 33 will be held against the tensionof the spring 34 by the peripheries of the disks 56, 51, 56 and 4!] atthe limit of its counterclockwise movement. In this position, it will benoted that the valve is will be in its closed position, therebypreventing communication between the fuel supply line and thecarburetor.

Now, when it is desired to open said valve, it will be necessary tomanipulate the disks 56, 51 and 58 so as to move the notches 66 thereofinto alignment with each other as well as in alignment with the notches54 in the plate members 44, 45 and 46. When the three annular disks havebeen so aligned, the bringing of the notch 4| into alignment with thenotches 54 will cause the spring 34 to move the stud 36 out of thenotches 54 and into the notch 4| and notches 60. Further movement of thedisk 46 in a clockwise direction will be effective for actuating lithedisk 26 by reason of the engagement of the pin 36 within the notch 4|,which movement will take place until the pin 36 is brought intoengagement with the shoulder 53 at which time the valve will becompletely opened. The mechianisrn may be permitted to remain in thisposition with the valve 16 in open position until the operator is readyto leave the vehicle and again lock the supply line.

In order to move the valve 9 to its closed posigtion, it is onlynecessary to rotate the shaft ||l direction until the stud 36 is broughtto a position opposite the notches 54. of the shaft and disk 40 willcause the stud'36 to ride on the cammed surface 42 of the notch 4| inthe disk 46 with the result that thestud 36 will be forced to enter thenotches 54,.in which position the valve l9 will be closed. The stud 36will now ride or rest against the periphery of the disk 40 and it willnot be possible to again open the valve until the proper combination hasbeen set up for bringing all of the notches 66 as.

well as the notch 4| incomplete alignment with each other at the pointdirectly opposite the notches 54, at which time the stud 36 will againvsnap into the notches and 4| so that further rotation of the-shaft I0 ina clockwise direction until the stud 36 is brought into contactingengagement with the shoulder 53 will bring the' valve l9 again intofully opened position.

In order to set up the combination from the dash board, the shaft in hasprovided on its free upper enda sleeve l6 rigidly secured thereto,

the upper end of said sleeve being bifurcatedto form the arms H, saidarms receiving therebetween the cylindrical rod 12, to which the sleeve10 is pivotally secured by means of the pin I3 extending through saidarms and through said rod. Pivotally mounted on the rod 12 for rotationthereon in a plane substantially pere pendicular to the plane ofrotation of the sleeve 16 is a sleeve 14 having the ears 15 in which isdisposed the free ends of the rod 12. are passed through the rod 12adjacent its free ends for preventing disassociation of the sleeve 14from therod 12.

The sleeve 14 has rigidly secured thereto one end of a shaft 11, theother end of which is flattened on both sides to produce the portion18*, which portion is received between the bifurcations 19 of a shaft 86journaled for rotationin the casing B secured to the dash board of thevehicle in any suitable and well known manner, such,.for example, asibymeans of the screws 8|. To prevent disengagement between the shafts 11and 86, a sleeve 82 is provided for surrounding the said shafts at theirpoint of juncture. To facilitate the rotation of the shaft 80, thesamehas,

provided on its free end-a suitable handle or knob 83 which is rigidlysecured thereto.

The following novel means are provided for actuating the shaft |0-to setup the combination for opening the valve II) when it is desired toopen-the fuel supply line to the carburetor. The casing B is providedwith an annular flange 84, which flange is adapt-ed to rest against thedash board I) and to form with said dash board the closedcompartment'85.

The flange 84 is provided with a slot 86 which is of a size and shape topermit the passage therethrough of the operating member 8'! forinsertion into the compartment 85. The casing B is so 'A suitable guide86 is provided on the inner face of the casing B, said guide being incommunication with the slot 86 and is adapted to receivetherein theshank portion of the operating member 81, as shown in Fig. 4.

Rigidly secured to the shank portion of the and its associated disk 40in a counter-clockwise.

Further rotation Pins 16- operating member 81 is a plate member 89,which plate member is provided with a plurality of cutout portions SIand 92, said cut-out portions" being arranged in any desired staggeredrelation, thereby varying the particular combination of the lock. Theguide member 88 is of a thickness substantially equal to the thicknessof the operating member 81, so that when the said operating member is inoperative position within the casing B, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, theplate member 89 will project beyond the guide member 88, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 3.

Co-operating with said operating member is an annular disk 93 which isadapted for disposition within the compartment for rotation therein,said disk having an inwardly extending annular flange 94 and arearwardly extending bushing 95 through which the shaft 88 is adapted topass. A pin 96 passing through said shaft and bushing is provided forlocking said shaft to said disk, whereby the latter will rotate with theshaft. The annular flange 94 provided on the disk 93 is cut away alongtwo points of its perimeter approximately 90 apart as shown at 91 and 98in Fig. 5, for permitting the passage of the operating member 81 as theannular flange 94 normally engages the inner wall of the casing B andthereby closes the passage 86 in the flange 84 of said casing.

The disk 93 is provided with a plurality of studs extending therefrom,the number of said studs corresponding to the number of cut-awayportions provided in the plate member 89. Thus in the embodimentillustrated, said member 93 is provided with the fixed studs 99 and I88and the yieldable stud I8I.

Said studs extend inwardly towards the inner wall of the casing B andare arranged when the operating member is in operative position toengage within the cut-out portions 90, 9| or 92 to co-operate therewithfor setting up the combination of the locking mechanism. Thus, in theembodiment illustrated, the stud I88 will co-operate with the notch 92,the stud 99 will co-operate with the notch 98 and the movable stud I8Iwill cooperate with the notch 9|, said studs engaging their co-operatingnotches as the disk 93 is rotated, thereby setting up the combination ofthe locking mechanism.

The plate member 89, as shown in Fig. 9, is provided with a curved edgeI82 to permit the passage thereover of the movable stud I8I when thedisk 93 is moved in a clockwise direction, as view-ed in Fig. 4. Themovable stud I8I is secured to one end of a flexible member I83, theother end of which is rigidly secured to the disk 93 in any suitable andwell known manner, such, for example, as by the rivets I84. The stud I8Iextends through an opening I85 provided in the disk 93.

In order to manipulate the mechanism. for setting up the combination, itis necessary to first move the disk 93 to a position where the cut-outportion 91 in the annular flange 94 thereof will be disposed inalignment with the slot 86 in the casing B. In order to determine whensuch position has been reached, I have provided a spring member I86, oneend of which is rigidly secured to the knob 83, as shown at I8'I in Fig.3. The other free end of said spring member I86 is adapted to engagewithin a recess I88 when the knob is disposed in position where thecut-out portion 91 is in alignment with the slot 86. It will thus bepossible to align said openings for the reception of the operatingmember 81 by the clicking sound caused by the free end of the spring I86entering the recess I88. When so aligned, the operating member 81 isinserted into the compartment 86 and the combination is now ready to beset up.

The knob is then rotated first in one direction to bring the stud 99into engagement with the notch 98. The knob is then turned in theopposite direction until the stud I88 is brought into engagement withthe notch 92. It will be noted that during this rotary movement, themovable stud I8I will be permitted to pass over the operating member 81which it will be necessary for it to do before the stud I88 is broughtinto engagement with the notch 92. Rotation in the opposite directionwill now bring the stud I8I into engagement with the notch 9|. This willcomplete the setting up of the combination, in which position thenotches 68 of the annular disks will be in alignment with the notch 4|in the disk 48 as well as in position opposite the notches 54 forreceiving the stud 36. Further rotation in a clockwise direction willactuate the valve disk 28 to bring about the opening of said valve,which opening will be completed when the stud 36 engages the shoulder53.

At this time it will also be noted that the cutout portion 98 providedin the annular plate 94 will be in alignment with the slot 86, therebypermitting the removal of the operating member 81. The valve is nowcompletely opened and fuel will be permitted to pass from the fuelsupply line to the carburetor. The rotation of the knob in the oppositedirection through an angle slightly greater than 90 will bring about aclosing of said valve and the fuel supply line will again be locked.

The operation of the device should be readily apparent and it will alsobe apparent that I have provided a novel and improved locking mechanismwhich will be substantially theft-proof and will, therefore, protect thevehicle with which it is associated from unauthorized use. It will alsobe noted that I have not only provided novel and improved means forclosing and opening the fuel valve leading to the carburetor, but havealso provided highly convenient means for manipulating the mechanism forsetting up the combination. The device has also associated with itimproved means for preventing the ready removal thereof from thevehicle, and if desired, in practice, the casing I4 may be formedintegral with the carburetor C so that the same may not be disconnectedfrom the carburetor thereby adding an additional feature of safety tothe device.

Although in the embodiment illustrated I have shown my improved lockingmechanism applied to a fuel line of a motor vehicle, it is to beunderstoodthat I do not limit myself to the specific application shown,as the same may be readily adapted and used with equally satisfactoryresults wherever a locking mechanism is found necessary or desirable.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly,and many of its advantages should be readily understood from theforegoing Without further description, and it should also be manifestthat while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details arenevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of myinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a rotatable member, ashaft, means for coupling said shaft to said member for imparting rotarymovement through the medium of said shaft to the member, said meansincluding a plurality of spaced super-imposed discs arranged forrelative movement to each other, means carried by said shaft forimparting movement to said discs, each of said discs being provided witha peripheral notch, and means carried by said rotatable member forengagement within said notches when the notches in all of said discs arebrought into alignment with each other whereby the further rotation ofsaid shaft will impart, through the medium of said discs, rotation tosaid rotatable member, means associated with said shaft to permit themanipulation of the same to cause said discs to be moved to positionswhere their peripheral notches will be brought into alignment with eachother.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a rotatable member, ashaft, means for coupling said shaft to said member for imparting rotarymovement through the medium of said shaft to the member, said meansincluding a plurality of spaced super-imposed discs arranged forrelative movement to each other, means carried by said shaft forimparting movement to said discs, each of said discs being provided witha peripheral notch, and means carried by said rotatable member forengagement within said notches when the notches in all of said discs arebrought into alignment with each other, whereby the further rotation ofsaid shaft will impart, through the medium of said discs, rotation tosaid rotatable member, means associated with said shaft to permit themanipulation of the same to cause said discs to be moved to positionswhere their peripheral notches will be brought into alignment with eachother, and means for limiting movement for said rotatable member throughan angle of 90 only.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a disc having amember pivotally mounted thereon and having a stud extending therefrom,said disc being provided with a peripheral notch for receiving saidstud, and means carried by said disc for normally urging said stud inone direction, a rotatable shaft having the free end thereof arrangedfor rotation within said disc, a second disc mounted on said shaftadjacent the free end thereof for rotation therewith, the diameter ofsaid second disc being such as to engage the stud to hold the same in aprojected position, said last-mentioned disc being provided with aperipheral notch within which said stud may be received for couplingsaid first mentioned disc tosaid second mentioned disc, a plurality ofannular spaced discs arranged around said shaft, each having aperipheral notch provided therein, means carried by said secondmentioned disc for actuating said last mentioned annular discs tobringthe same into peripheral relation with each other, in which relation allof said notches will be in alignment with each other and with the notchprovided in the second mentioned disc, said stud being adapted fordisposition Within said notches upon alignment of the same in saidpredetermined relation, whereby movement of said shaft will impart acorresponding movement to said first mentioned disc.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a disc having amember pivotally mounted thereon and having a stud extending therefrom,said disc being provided with a peripheral notch for receiving saidstud, and means carried by said disc for normally urging saidstud in onedirection, a rotatable shaft having the free end thereof arranged forrotation within said disc, a second disc mounted on said shaft adjacentthe free end thereof for rotation therewith, the diameter of said seconddisc being such as to engage the stud to hold the same in a projectedposition, said last-mentioned disc being provided with a peripheralnotch within' which said stud may be received for coupling said firstmentioned disc to said second mentioned disc, a plurality of annularspaced discs arranged around said shaft, each having a peripheral notchprovided therein, means carried by said second mentioned disc foractuating said last mentioned annular discs to bring the same intoperipheral relation with each other, in which relation all of saidnotches will be in alignment with each other and with the notch providedin the second mentioned disc, said stud being adapted for dispositionwithin said notches upon alignment of the same in said predeterminedrelation, whereby movement of said shaft will impart a correspondingmovement to said first mentioned disc.

ALBERT J. PACEWICK.

